Wire stitching apparatus



y 29, 1951 R. 'E. ZERUNEITH 2,554,691

WIRE STITCHING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 :2 INVENTOR.

RUDOLPH E-ZERUN E1TH y 9, 1951 R. E ZERUNEITH 2,554,691

WIRE STITCHING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RUDGLPH E-ZERUHEWH May 29, 1951 R. E. ZERUNEITH 2, ,6 1

WIRE s'rrrcnmc APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY R. E. ZERUNEITH WIRE STITCHING APPARATUS May 29, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 24, 1948 INVENTOR. RuooL'PH E. ZERUNEITH ATTORNEY Patented May 29', 1951 UNITED STATES RATENT OFFICE 2,554,691 WIRE STITCHING APPARATUS Rudolph E. Zeruneith, Philadelphia, Pa. Application June 24, 1948, Serial No. 35,006

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in motor-driven automatic wire-stitching machines, it being among the general objects of the present invention to provide a safe and efiicient machine which is readily adapted to produce in rapid succession a series of wire staples formed from a continuous length of Wire fed intermittently to and through the staple-forming head of the machine, each staple being formed of a length of wire cut to predetermined length.

Further general objects of the present invention are to provide a wire-stitching machine which is strong and durable in use, which is compact and relatively inexpensive in construction, which is easily and conveniently serviced as occasion may require, and which is capable of producing a line of more or less closely spaced individually formed staples to stitch together a wide variety of articles as the latter are fed into and through the stitching head of the machine.

Among the more specific objects of the pres ent invention is the provision of a simple and effective means for so controlling the feed of the supply spool or reel of the staple-forming wire that while the latter is freely fed intermittently through the stitching head of the machine to produce in rapid succession a series of individual; ly formed staples as aforesaid, the Wire" is at all times under such controlled state of tension as to prevent any undesirable slack therein.

Still another and important object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly compact and efiicient means for effecting sequential operation of the several mechanisms included. within the stitching head of the machine for forming each individual staple, said mechanisms including (1) a pivoted anvil which is swingable into position to rigidly support the wire while it is initially cut to predetermined length and formed into staple shape,. (2) a reciprocating staple forming bar, and (3) a reciprocating staple driv ing bar for driving the formed staple into the vork to be stitched.

Still another and important object of the pres ent invention. is to provide a simple and effective means for intermittently" advancing pred termined lengths of the stapler forming wire ta and through the stitching head of the machine, said means being self-adjustable" dui'i'ng operaticn to compensate for possible: variations in the diameter of the wire to thereby insure properfeed of the Wire through the-machine.-

A still further and: important object of tlie vention is to provide s drivemechanismiorth'e machine which is sc operative-that upon mtg-r rupting operation of the machine, as upon disengagement of the clutch from the continuously Operating motor driven shaft, the stitching mechani's'm will complete the particular stitch in process of being formed but will not repeat a stitch by operation of the machine of its own momentum, thereby insuring that the stitching head of the machine is at all times ready to instantly form a new stitch upon resuming operation of the machine;

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more' fully hereinafter, it being understood that said invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location, and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be described in the following specification, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a wire stitching machine as constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent' invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of the machine; v

Figure 3 is an enlarged View, partially in section, of the stitching head and associated parts of the machine,- the sectioned parts being principally those as viewed along the line 3-3 of Figure 4; I

Figure 4 a front elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 4 but showing the staple iorrning' wire advanced to and partially through the stitching head;

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to the lower portion of Figure 5 showing the staple forming wire fully advanced through the stitching head to form a wire staple;

Figure? is a view, partially in section, as taken along the line 1-! of Figure5;

Figure 8- is a sectional detail as taken along thejline 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure- 9 is a sectional detail as taken along theline- 9-9 of Figure-3;

Figures 10 and 11 are sectional views, each taken along the line I|l l' of Figure '7, showing the device for preventing reverse withdrawal of the Samararming wire fed into the stitching head of the machine;

Figure 12s a front elevational View, partially in section} of the stltching head showing the opera/tiori' of the staple forming mechanisms;

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view as taken along the 11m: l'3-[3 ofFi'guie 12;;

Figlll'e- I4 is a view similar to" Figure 12 but 3 showing the pivoted wire-supporting anvil swung free of the wire and out of the path of the staple driving bar;

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the line I5-I5 of Figure 14;

Figures 16 and 17 are views showing the relative positions assumed by the staple-forming bar and the staple-driving bar in relation to the clinch die as the staple is finally formed;

Figure 18 is a view showing in separated relation the relatively movable staple-forming bar and staple-driving bar;

Figure 19 is a face view of the staple-forming bar as viewed from the line Ill-I9 of Figure 18; and

Figure 20 is a face view of the staple-driving bar as viewed from the line 20-20 of Figure 18.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, it will be observed that the wire stitching machine of the present invention is generally in the form of a compact motor driven organization designated I which is adapted to be suitably supported at the upper end of a vertically extending pedestal II having a floor engaging base I2. In the form of the machine as illustrated in the drawings, the pedestal II is provided at its upper end with a relatively broad platform I3 upon which is suitably mounted all of those parts to be presently described which constitute the stitching machine proper of the present invention, including an electric motor I4 by means of which the machine is driven. If desired, the platform I3 may be formed separately of the pedestal II for removable securement to the latter, in which case the platform I3 would form a component part of the wire stitching machine Ill to provide therefor a base by means of which it may be mounted upon any suitable support, as for example, a work table, floor pedestal or the like.

Operatively mounted upon the pedestal I I immediately beneath the upper platform I3 thereof is a horizontally extending work-supporting stitcher-arm I5 in the outer free end of which is fitted a clinch member or die I6 for clinching the staples as the same are successively formed in the stitching machine and driven through the work to be stitched. The stitching arm I5 is supported in the pedestal II or in the base of the stitching machine In in such vertically spaced relation with respect to the platform I3 and the lower end ll of the stitching head as to permit the work to be stitched to be freely shifted across the top of the stitcher-arm I5. In the particular apparatus illustrated, the work-supporting stitcher-arm I5 is preferably of rectangular cross-sectional shape and is disposed with its rear end I8 more or less snugly fitted within a rectangular opening I9 formed in the rear wall of the support for the wire stitching machine II], the arm I5 projecting forwardly of the support through a second opening 20 formed in the front wall of the support in registry with the opening I9. Extending transversely of this support II is a bearing pin 2|, one end of which is threaded as at 22 (see Figure 2) for engagement with a side wall 23 of the support, while the other end of the pin is journalled as at 24 in the opposite side wall 25 of the support.

The intermediate body portion of the pin is tapered as at 26 for seating engagement within a complementally tapered notch 21 formed in the bottom edge of the stitcher-arm I5, the taper 28 of the pin being of such length that as the pin is threaded into the wall 23 of the support it IQ TGQS the stitcher-arm to rise vertically to thereby present the clinch die I6 into closer relation with respect to the lower end I! of the stitching head. Conversely, as the bearing pin 2| is axially withdrawn from the wall 23 the stitcher-arm I5 assumes a lowered position to increase the spacing between the clinch die I6 and the lower end I! of the stitching head. It will be apparent, of course, that the tapered portion 26 of the transverse bearing 2| coacts with the transverse notch 21 in the stitcher-arm I5 to lock the latter against longitudinal displacement relatively to its support. Due to the fact that the openings IS and 20 snugly embrace opposite sides of the stitcher-arm I5, the latter is restrained against lateral displacement and is capable only of vertical adjustment accordingly as the bearing pin 2| is axially adjusted transversely of the stitcherarm. By so providing for vertical adjustment of the stitcher-arm proper adjustment may be effected between the clinch die I5 and the stitching head to accommodate varying thicknesses of work to be stitched.

The stitching organization Iii generally includes a vertical spool-supporting bracket 28 suitably supported upon a box-shaped support or housing 23 for the staple-forming mechanisms presently to be described, said mechanisms including a mechanism for intermittently feeding wire to and through the stitching head, a swingable anvil for supporting predeterminately fixed lengths of the wire in position to be formed into individual staples, a vertically reciprocating staple-forming bar, a vertically reciprocating staple-driving bar and a gear transmission for operating the several mechanisms in predetermined sequence by means of the electric motor I4.

The spool-supporting bracket 28 is provided at its upper end with a bearing 30 within which is journalled a freely rotatable spindle 3I of greater length than and extending from one end of the journal 30. Keyed or otherwise nonrotatably secured to the spindle 3| is a brake disk 32. Also secured nonrotatably to the freely extending portion of the spindle 3I is a wire supply spool or reel 33, the latter being secured to the spindle 3I for rotation therewith by means of a pair of tapered seats 34 and 35, one of which is preferably formed integrally with the brake disk 32 and the other one of which is formed as the end terminal portion of a rotatable clamping nut which threadedly engages the threaded free end of the spindle 3|, the arrangement being such that upon tightening said clamping nut its tapered seat 35 coacts with the tapered seat 34 fixed to' the brake disk 32 and so to the spindle to nonrotatably clamp the spool or reel to the rotatable spindle.

Pivotally mounted upon a bearing pin 36 fixed to and projecting laterally from the spool-supporting bracket 28 is a horizontally disposed plate 31 to which is secured a flexible wire-guiding leaf spring 38 of the arcuate form most clearly shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, this Wireguiding leaf spring being provided with suitable wire-guiding elements 39 and 4c respectively disposed at the leading and trailing edges of the spring for guiding the spool forming wire longitudinally over the outer surface of the spring along a line spaced centrally between its opposite side edges. These guide means 39 and 40 may be in the form of raised eyelets through which the wire is threaded or they may be in the form of pairs of spaced parallel guide pins, such arse-ass as? those: designateda inuny; prion United-1v States? liettersa'ghatent Nhz; 252%;916; granted-113st cember 31, 1940. If desiredghtheanumberiof;the wire-guiding elements mounted; om the'xfiextble leafxspring z3 Bimay' be rincrea'sed:tdlsuihanyypars ticularr requirements and? ther curvature ofi. said heat spring;

The: pivoted 1 plate 03:7 which; serves as the supe port for; the: freely? extending arcuately'shapedl leaf'spring Sa is maintained insubstantiallyhori zont'azl:positionby "interposing a-afreelyr-v extending, edge: portion: thereof between: a pair of vertically; alined; compression: springsM-t; andrv 42:-

up? per. spring 4]. rests; upon the :top of-i the-pivoted plate: 3 1: and exerts ani-upvvard-thrustzragainst a; vertically shiftable' braking: element 4.3 inrsf ric tionala engagement with the periphery? op; the: brakerdisk 32 saidibraking element. 4:3 being ;sup.=-= ported? for vertical movement within: a suitablm bored boss' 44: formed; as. an! integral part' of the. spool -supporting:bracketw28h The'low'er compresa sion spring 42 is supported upon a second'sboss 4.5-} also formed't as: arr. integrali. partof:'. the" bracket 28; and-exerts a thrust? upwardly" against thezun der surface of-lthe pivoted plateau;

It will be; apparent? that. when the: leaff-springi 3a: is: in its unflexed state; .thatis; when it is enot flexed: downwardly: andi inwardly under-2 pull of: the wirev A; lengthwise of; its: outer surface' thea compressiom springs: flit- 32i conjointly 'exert a sufficient force upwardly on therbraking'element" '43 to cause it to bear against thel brakerdisk-B-Zi with. sufiicient. pressure: to: preventrotatiom of the: spindle Ei-land;v accord-ingly,v of the spindle or reel: 33 As the wire: A;- extending: along" the: leaf spring 3'8 1 is pulled lengthwise thereof; the; leaf. spring; is flexed downwardly and}; inwardly; and at the'rsamertime causes"its-supportingplate 31-2 to: swing downwardly;- about its pi'vota36; thereby compressing the: lower springflzi-simultanea ously; as the: pressure of; thez' upperr spring; til? against the-braking element 43, isreducedi Upon: such pressure abatementt the? braking element 43 against the brakesdisk" 42; the" reel33 is;f-r.eeto rotate-to: pay outa-IengthaOfi-theeWireeA Sflfe ficient toform-a staplebythe mechanismsg-oiirthea stitching headtobe'presen'tly describedz. Aisrthelv requisite length of wire is fedinto: the.- staples forming head of the' machine itis heldcthereim against reverse movement: following; :whichrther leaf spring 38 resumes its; normal; unflexed rposietion to take up all slackin the: portionlofithe: wireextending from thereel: 33 and rat: the same: time re-energizes: the SpringPpressed' braking'jele men-t1 4-3 for such increased frictionalengagement;

withzthe; brake disk 32 'a-s-to:lock thezwiressupply? reel 33. against rotatiom By: means oflitheare rangement. above: described, the: downwards-pulls. exerted onv the? wire A results: lessening; of: the; braking: pressureupon the brakes disk 32; to:- an extent corresponding: exactly with: the extent ot'i the: downward pull, thereby; permitting; the-unawindingof= just enough wireatoitmeet the-.requirat mentsof. the machine; Thus the wire does not-3 becometangled-norrunwildi The box-shaped-supportor housing-29,; intwhich are operatively, disposed the; severalamechanismsv of the stitching, machine, generally comprises: a maincasting 4 6 i (-see more particularly Figures- 3;. 7' and which; serves: as. a. support: for the: pivoted anvil. and thavertically.: reciproc'ables staple -forming and staple-driving .bars hereinbe-- fore referred to, as well as a bearingfor'thegean trairr. and. clutch. mechanism. operativelwinterposed-l. between L the. driving. motor: I 4-: andi. said-t the=-casting overhangs'somewhat the'frontal edge:

of the-platform 13. As most clearly appearsv in: Figure 1, the electric motor M for. driving the? stitching machine is also mountedupon therplatform i-S in: suitably spaced relation'withrespectto: the stitching machine headcasting: Mi. As;- most. clearly appears in Figures 3 and 7', the-cast ingyefi has suitahly'journalled therein a; shaft-5i,

this shaft being principally journalled as at 52:

in the rear wall of the gear housing 46 and being. provided at its outer end with a gear 5 3 in constant mesh with. a gear 54 keyed to andzro' tatable: with the drive shaft 55' of the. motor. [4; Keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 51 for" rotation therewith is a pinion gear 55 which; in

turnis inconstant mesh with a gear 57' journalled on andlfreel'y rotatable: about a-shaft 58 suitably" iournalled withinthe casting'dfias at 59 and 60.

The gear 5:? which isjournalledupon the" shaft:

58: constitutes one elementv of a' clutch. and, ac--- cordingly, said gear is provided with anxaxiallyx extending hub 65, the annular edge ofiwhich; is" provided with a: series of 'circumferentiallyspaced; clutch teeth 62. Splined to the portion of' the. shaft 58 disposed rearwardly' of the clutch. gear- 3 57! is a clutch member 63' having on its. frontal. face a series of circumferentially spaced. clutch teeth 64 adaptedfor clutching engagement with coacting clutch teeth 62 of the clutch gear 57'. The clutch member: 63, while splined to the shaft 58Jf0n rotation therewith. is; nevertheless; freer to shift. axially in opposite directions along; said: shaftawherebyto? effect'engagement or dis-- engagement. of the coacting clutch teeth 52 and; 6:11. Inorden to-axially shift-the: clutch member 63:1intorand-out. of. operative engagement with the clutch. gear Eigthe. clutch member is provided with anannular channel or groove 55 into which projects the inner end 5630f a bell-crank clutch shifting lever: 61-" suitably pivoted to thehousing casting; 48- as at 58:; This clutch. shiftinglever 61:: is=provided with a rearwardly extending arm. B91which1isengageable by asprings-Dressed plunger Hie which: imposes a normal bias upon the lever 61' tending toshift the. clutch member 63 outiof engagement with. its cooperating clutch gearTS'T The mechanism for actuating the clutch shifting lever. it will be described hereinafter;

In. order to'= prevent jamming of. the enacting clutchiteeth 62 and 64 when the clutch member 63: is axially: shifted into engagement with the. clutch;gearr 5:1; the latter is resiliently backed: by a: sp,ring,pressed-i pin iii; this pin being urged into close relation to the continuously revolving clutch-gearrbya compression spring: "H disposed Within asuitable-so'cket '52 having its outer end closedrby an axially adjustable threaded insert 13: It will; be. apparent that this spring=biased pin 'lfl'permits the clutch gear 5'i'to: yield axiallyaway from the clutch member; 53 when the latter is; shifitedi into clutching position until Suchtimct as theieooperatin a clutch teeth: E2 and fi'dslip into. fullengagement with. one another; the clutch gean 5?: being: thereupon. maintained in Opera'- tive-;mesh withv the: clutch: member 53'. until such; time: when--. the: latteri is: disengaged. from: the:

clutch gear 51 under the normal bias of the spring-pressed plunger m as will more fully appear hereinafter.

Secured to the forward extremity of the driven shaft 58, preferably as an integral part thereof, is a cam disk 14 having a pair of angularly related, axially spaced raised cam edges 15 and 76. The raised cam edge 15 is disposed axially inward of the raised cam edge 16, each of said cam edges being spaced radially outward of and extending along a circular arc concentric with a circular dwell edge. Thus, in the case of the inner cam edge E5 of the cam disk it it rises from a circular dwell edge H having a radius substantially less than that of the circular cam edge 75. Similarly, in the case of the cam edge 75, it rises from a circular dwell edge l8 having a radius substantially less than that of the circular cam edge '16.

For reasons which will be apparent immediately hereinafter, the circular cam edges 35 and 16 respectively extend through arcs of predetermined degree, the arc of the cam edge 15 being of sufiicient length to insure intermittent feed of predetermined lengths of wire successively into the stitching head of the machine, while the are of the cam edge 16 is of sufficient length to insure proper disposition of the wire-supporting anvil in timed relation to the intermittent feed of the wire into and through the stitching head of the machine, and to the movements of the vertically reciprocable staple-forming and stapledriving bars. It will be noted that to this latter end the angularly related cam edges 15 and 16 are disposed approximately 180 degrees apart, that is, they are respectively disposed at approximately diametrically opposite sides of the cam disk 14.

As has been previously mentioned, the shaft 5| is principally journalled at its rear end, as at 52, with its forward end 80 of reduced diameter projecting axially into an enlarged bore 8| formed in the front end of the casting support 46. It will be noted that the reduced end of the shaft 5| extends forwardly a distance sufficient to overlie the cam edge 15 of the cam disc 14 so that conjointly with the latter it provides a feeding mechanism for the wire drawn from the supply reel 33. A bearing sleeve 82 fitting on the reduced forward end of the shaft and loosely disposed within the bore 8| serves as a front bearing for the revoluble shaft 5 said bearing sleeve 82 having a capacity for limited movement transversely of the bore 3 i. A shoe 83 slidably fitted within a bore 84 extending vertically normal to the horizontal axis of the bore 8| is resiliently urged into engagement with the bearing sleeve 82 to prevent axial displacement of said sleeve while permitting it to shift transversely of the axis of rotation of the shaft 5|. To this end, the shoe 83 is provided at its inner end with an arcuately shaped seat 85 in engagement with the peripheral surface of the bearing sleeve 82 and with depending side flanges 86-86 embracing opposite edges of said bearing sleeve in the region above the shaft 5|. A coiled compression spring 81 interposed between the base of the spool-supporting bracket 28 and the bottom of the shoe 83 serves to resiliently press the latter radially against the bearing sleeve 82 and s resiliently maintains the shaft in such position that the peripheral surface thereof at its outer free end coacts with the raised circular cam edge 15 of the cam disc 14 to provide an intermittently operative feed mechanism for drawing successive lengths of the wire A from the supply spool 33 and for feeding them to and through the staple-forming head of the wire stitching machine.

It will be apparent that although the shaft 5| rotates continuously upon operation of the motor l4, feeding of the wire through the stitching machine is effected only as the cam edge 15 of the cam disc 14 rotates into position to grip the wire between said cam edge and the cylindrical surface of the shaft 5|. Inasmuch as the latter is spring-pressed toward the wire-gripping surface of the cam 15 of the cam disc 14, the spacing between the wire-gripping surfaces of the cam disc 14 and of theshaft 5| is automatically adjusted to compensate for variations in the diameter of the wire being to and through the machine, the spring-pressed shoe 83 being operative to at all times cause the rotatin shaft 5| to press the wire against the rotating wire-feeding cam edge 15 of the cam disc 14 with sufficient force to insure a positive intermittent feed of the wire through the machine.

The extent of the advance of the wire A through the machine by the coacting wire-gripping surfaces of the cam disc 14 and the shaft 5| is determined by the arcuate length of the cam edge 15, the wire being seized immediately as the leading point of said cam edge rotates into approximate tangential relation to the shaft 5| and being released immediately as the trailing point of said cam edge rotates out of such tangential relation.

It will be understood, of course, that rotation of the cam disc 14 for intermittent feed of the wire through the machine is effected only when the clutch member 63 is operatively connected to the clutch gear 51, in which case the motive power from the motor I4 is transmitted from the motor shaft 55 through the gears 54 and 53 to the feed roll shaft 5|, thence through the gears 56 and 51 and the interengaged clutch teeth 62 and 54 to the driven shaft 58 of the cam disc 14. As has been previously described, the clutch member 63 is normally maintained disengaged from its coacting clutch gear 51 by the springpressed plunger Hi acting upon the arm 69 of the pivoted clutch-shifting lever 61. In order to shift said lever into its clutch engaging position as shown in Figure 7, the arm 69 thereof is pressed upwardly against the spring-pressed plunger 19 by a lever 88 (see Figure 1), suitably fulcrumed as at 39, and connected, as by a rod 90, to a foot-operated pedal 9|. A coiled compression spring 92 interposed between the fulcrumed lever 88 and the platform i3 maintains the lever 88 and its operating foot pedal 9| in its inoperative or clutch disengaging position. Of course, any other suitable means may be employed for actuating the clutch-shifting lever 61.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of means automatically operative to maintain the clutch engaged for a period sufiicient to insure completion of each cycle of operation in which a given staple is formed and driven into the work to be stitched or stapled. To this end the axially shiftable clutch member 63 is provided in its rear flat face 93 with a camming recess 94 having a flat dwell surface extending between of pair of circumferentially spaced oppositely inclined cam surfaces 95 and 95, each of which rises from the fiat dwell surface of the camming recess 94 to the outer flat face 93 of the clutch member.

A cam roller 98 journalled upon a pin 99 fixed vertically in the casting member 46 and rotatably aceaem engageable with the rear surface of the clutch member 63 is adapted to register with the cammin-g recess -94 once for each revolution of said clutch member. This camming recess is of such arcuate extent and is so angularly related to the cam edge 15 of the cam disc It, which latter together with the clutch member -63 are rotatable together as a unit with the driven shaft 58, as to insure against any staple being partially formed -r repeated by the machine upon movement of any of the parts thereof under their own momentum following disengagement of the clutch 67 whereby the latter is urged into its inoperative position shown in Figure 3 by the bias of the spring-pressed plunger the clutch member 63 will remain in engagement with the clutch gear 57 until its camming recess 34 rotates into registry with the cam roller 93, whereupon the clutchmember 63 is instantly free to shift axially out of engagement with the clutch gear.

Inasmuch as the clutch member 63 is thus disengageable from the clutch gear 51 only when the camming recess 94 is in registry with the cam roller 08, it will be apparent that release of the clutch-shifting leverBlI will not interrupt rotation of the cam shaft 58 until it has rotated suiiiciently to complete the cycle of forming and clinching a given staple,such cycle being repeated only upon further actuation of :the clutch-shifting lever to effect interengagem'ent of the clutch membersfil and 63. During operation of the motor I l and so longas the clutch members 51 and 83 remain engaged, the machine -will operate to form and clinch insuccession an indefinite number of staples each formed of an equal length of the wire supplied fromthe supply spool or reel 33.

As has been previously indicated, the. cam disk I4, which is rotatable with the driven shaft-58, is-not only operative to actuate the wire feeding cam edge 75 in association with the continuously rotating feed roll shaft 5|, but it is also 'op'eratiye to actuate, through the intervention of. suitable means presently to be described, a pivotally mounted anvil I00, a vertically reciprocable staple-formin bar IOI and a vertically reciprocable staple-driving bar I02. These latter 'vertically reciprocable bars IM and IUZarearranged in nested relation as shown more particularly in Figures 12 to 20, inclusive, and are adaptedflto be relatively reciprocated by linksjl03 andQIM pivotally connected together bya crankf'pin jvl l'i projecting forwardly of the cam disk; The outer free end of the linl; I04 is connected to the fiat rear face of the staple-driving bar I02'by ,a pin I 06, while the outer end of the link; I03jis pivotally connected to the staple-forming bar IOI by a pin IIJ'I. The general arrangementfof the vertically reciprocable bars IOI and. I02 and of the. pivoted. anvil I00 is, substantially similar to that shown in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,226,916 hereinbeforereferred.to} the staple-forming bar I! being suitably guided; in its'vertical reciprocation within a channel. su tin the lower y projection II5 formed on the anvil ably formed inthe front end of the casting member of support 46. This-staple-forming 'b'arI III is provided in its rear face with a vertically "extendin channel It?! in which the staple-driving bar 102 is nested for guided vertical reciprocation relatively to the staple-forming bar 'I'0'I.

Theopposed inner surfaces of the sidewalls of the channel Nil formed in the staple forming bar IEII are respectively provided at their lower ends with vertical grooves I M-I38 (see l 'igures wand-1B) eac'hof a width and depth determined by the cross-sectional size of the wire fromwhich the staples are formed. The staple-forming bar IfiI is additionally provided in one outer side thereof adjacent its bottom edge with a hardened metal insert Hie which serves as a wire'cutting element, this element coacting with a's'econd hardened metal insert II!) which is fitted "in the guide for the vertically reciprocable bar IllI for shearing off each length of the wire to be formed into a staple, the shearing operation being'effected upon each downward stroke of the stapletOrm ing bar IOI. The staple-driving In'emb'er I02 which is guided by and is vertically reciprocable relatively to the staple-formin member I0] is provided at its lower end with a transverse groove or notch ii I of a width and depth determined by the gauge of the wire of which the staples are to be formed, said notch being adapted to engage the horizontally extending portion of the formed staple during the operation o-f driving the latter through the work and clinching-it upon the clinch plate. The Wire-:en-

gaging base o'fthenotch 'II I is preferably formed by an insert'plate I I I secured in position withend of the driving bar I02 by a screw Ii E the opposite edges of the plate projecting slightly beyond either side of the bar I02 for slidin accommodation within the'oppos'ed grooves Ilia-I98 of the staple-forming bar IOI during relative movement of the bars IOI and The anvil I00 is suitably journalled upon a transverse pivot pin H2 fixed in the casting 46 and is provided in its depending nose portion with a transversely extending notch I I3 intoand through which the wire A is fed by means of the hereinbefore described feed roll shaft'iiI and its cooperating cam edge I5 ofthe cam disk 14. =S1-idably' fitted within the casting 46 is a cam follower rod II4, the upper end of which bears against that edge of the cam disk M which is provided with the raised cam edge I6, whileits lower end bears against a rearwardly extending .As most clearly appears inFig'ure 3, when the upper end of the cam follower 'I I4 is engaged by 'thecam edge 16 of the cam disk H, the follower is depressed to shift the anvil I 00 into its position as shown, the anvil remaining locked in such shiftedvposition during all of the period that the cam follower I It is engaged by the cam edge 16. When saidcamedge passes beyond and out'of contact with the follower I It, the latter is free to be shifted vertically upward. by any downward force exer-ted upon the front ofthe pivoted anvil Illli as when the staple drivingbar I02 engages the notched nose of the anvil during the operationof driving the formed staple into the work to. be stitched. in thislatter operation the lowered notched end ofthe drive bar I02 shifts the pivoted anvil from its. position shown in Figure 13 into its position shown inoEigure l5 simultaneously as the formed :staple is engagedby-the drive ,barpreliminarily .to driving the staple through the work and against the clinch plate on the work-supporting arm. The weight of the suspended portion of the pivoted anvil I may in itself be sufficient to cause it to swing into its position shown in Figure 15 when the upper end I of the calm follower H4 is freed of its engaging cam edge I6, in which latter case the cam follower H4 is vertically raised into its position shown in Figure 15.

It will be understood, of course, that the pivoted anvil is disposed for swinging movement into and out of the path of vertical reciprocation of the staple-driving bar I02 and, accordingly, said anvil is so disposed that when swung into its operative position shown in Figure 3 by means of the cam follower H4 and its actuating cam edge 76, its notched nose fits snugly within the channel I07 of the staple-forming bar IOI. In such operative position of the anvil, the staple-forming wire is held in the notch I I3 with its opposite ends projecting equally beyond the parallel vertically extending side wall planes of the channel I0! with the result that when the staple-forming bar I0! is shifted into its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 14, the grooved side walls of the channel, which respectively embrace the anvil I00, cooperate with the latter to form the opposite side legs of the wire staple. Thereupon, the drive bar I02 shifts downwardly to drive the staple through the work and against the clinch plate.

In operation of the mechanism just described, upon rotation of the drive shaft 58 both the staple forming bar IOI and the staple-driving bar I02 will be reciprocated vertically, although not in unison, through the medium of the crank pin I and the connecting links I03 and I04. Actually, although both the staple-forming bar IOI and the staple-driving bar I02 descend on each down stroke of the crank pin I05, these members do not descend in synchronism due to the relative movement which takes place between the connecting links I03 and I04.

Because of the unlike instantaneous positions constantly assumed by the connecting links I03 and I04 relative to the crank pin I05, the stapleforming bar IOI will be driven downwardly at the initial portion of the crank pin down stroke at a faster rate than the staple-driving member I02. Thus, when the crank pin I05 completes its first quarter turn, the corresponding lower ends of the bars IOI and I02 are furthest apart. During the second quarter turn of the crank pin, the downward velocity of the staple-driving member I02 increases, while that of the staple-forming member IOI decreases. When the crank pin completes its second quarter turn, the lower ends of both of the bars IOI and I02 will have been brought into registry with each other. In other words, on each down stroke of the crank, the staple-forming bar IOI initially descends ahead of the staple-driving bar I02, following which the staple-driving bar catches up to the staple-forming bar as these bars reach the end of their down stroke.

On the up stroke of the crank pin I05, both the staple-forming and driving bars are raised, but this time they move in reverse order, the stapledriving bar being lifted ahead of the staple-forming member. At the completion of the inoperative up stroke, the staple-forming member catches up to the staple-driving member, thereby completing one cycle of operation.

In respect to the anvil I00, in actual operation of the stitching machine, the lower end of the driving bar I02 descends and engages the notched nose of the anvil, and since at this phase of the cycle of operation the cam edge 11 of the cam disk 14 has passed freely beyond the upper end of the cam follower rod II4, the anvil is free to be swung into an inoperative position about its pivot pin II2. On the inoperative return or up stroke of the driving bar I02, the cam edge I! reengages the upper end of the cam follower H4 and so depresses the latter against the pivoted anvil I00 with the result that said anvil swings into its operative wire supporting position just as the lower end of the ascending driving bar I02 clears the notched nose of the anvil.

The wire A which is fed from the supply spool 33 to and through the stitching head of the machine moves along a generally S-shaped course, the initial portion of which is lengthwise along the arcuate outer surface of the wire tensioning leaf spring 38. From the free extremity of this leaf spring, the wire passes through a suitable opening II5 provided in the side plate 41 and thence along a horizontal path transversely of the casting 46 and between the feed roll shaft 5! and the cooperating wire feeding cam disk I4, the wire being caught between the cam edge I5 of said cam disk and the feed roll shaft 5| as hereinbefore described, successive equal lengths of the wire being thus intermittently drawn from the spool. In order to hold the wire against retraction from the stitching head during each interval that the wire is freed from the gripping and advancing action of the cooperating feed roll shaft 5| and the cam edge I5, a spring pressed detent is employed in the form of a ball I I6 adapted to be wedged against the wire to lock it immovably in position.

This ball detent I I6 is operatively disposed upon a tapered seat II'I formed in a member H9 secured to the side plate 41 in the immediate vicinity of the entrance opening I I5 through which the wire passes for engagement by the cooperating wire feed members. The tapered seat I I1 constitutes the bottom wall of a wire passage II8 formed in the member H9 in registry with the entrance opening II5, the ball detent being urged downwardly of its tapered seat and into holding engagement with the wire A by a plate I I9 loosely secured to a stud I20 normally biased outwardly by a coiled compression spring I2I the outer end of the stud being suitably provided with a knob I22. Upon pressing this knob inwardly against the action of the spring I2I, the ball detent is free to roll out of wedging engagement with the wire to permit it to be withdrawn outwardly from the passage II8 should this be desired.

It will be apparent that the wire detent is operative to permit the successive lengths of the wire to be drawn freely into and through the stapleforming mechanisms of the machine by the cooperating wire feed members hereinbefore described, at the same time that it holds the wire securely in position when its advance through the machine is interrupted and while each staple is being formed.

The wire advanced by the cooperating feed roll members is guided in its movement from said feed members to the stitch-forming head of the machine through an arcuately-shaped tubular guide I23 which is suitably fixed in position to the side plate 48 of the stitch-forming machine. The upper end of this tubular guide I23 is in horizontal registry with the line of transverse movement of the wire through the entrance opening H5 and between the cooperating wire feed members, while its lower end is in horizontal registry with the transverse notch Hit of the anvil "l on when' the latter is swun into its operative wire-supporting position, as shown in Figures 12 and 13.

As appears most clearly in Figures and 12, the hardened cutter element l Ill is in the form of a ring which is pressed or otherwise fitted into that part of the casting which forms avertically extending side guide wall for the reciproca-' insure wire cutting engagement of the ring with the wire cutter element I09 fixed to the lower end of the staple-forming bar Ill I.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time I to time without involving any departure from the general principles or real spirit thereof, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

l. A wire-stitching machine of the character described comprising a continuously rotatable main drive shaft having a freely extending end portion, a driven shaftadapted to be rotated by said drive shaft at a reduced speed and having a radially extending portion rotatable in a plane normal to and intersecting said freely extending end portion of the drive shaft, the peripheral edge of said radially extending portion being 00- incident with a circle which is approximately tangential to the surface of and of a diameter substantially greater than said end portion of the drive shaft, said peripheral edge being of an arcuate length suficient to advance a predetermined length of staple-forming wire through the machine upon each revolution of the driven shaft;

a pair of constantly entrained gears respectively associated with said shafts, one of said gears being keyed to the drive shaft and the other being freely revoluble about said driven shaft, and clutch means operative to interengage said drive shaft and its revoluble gear to effect conjoint rotation of said shafts and intermittent feed of successive lengths of staple-forming wire therebetween.

2. A wire-stitching machine of the character described comprising a continuously rotatable main drive shaft having a freely extending end portion, a driven shaft adapted to be rotated by said drive shaft at a reduced speed and having a radially extending portion rotatable in a plane normal to and intersecting said freely extending end portion of the drive shaft, the peripheral edge of said radially extending portion being coincident with a circle which is approximately tangential to the surface of and of a diameter substantially greater than said end portion of the drive shaft, said peripheral edge being of an arcuate length sufficient to advance a predetermined length of staple-forming wire through the machine upon each revolution of the driven shaft, a pair of constantly entrained gears respectively associated with said shafts, one of said gears being keyed to the drive shaft and the other being freely revoluble about said driven shaft, and

clutc'h means operative to interenga-ge said drive shaft and its revoluble gear to effect conjoint rotation of said shafts and intermittent feed of successive lengths of staple forming wiretherebetween, said clutch meansbeing operative automatically to complete the full advance of a predetermined length of the wire through the machine for each complete revolution ofthe drive shaft.

3. A wire-stitching machine of the character described comprising a continuously rota-table main drive shaft having a freely extendingend portion, a driven shaft adapted to be rotated by said drive shaft at a reduced speed and having a radially extending portion rotatable in a plane normal to and intersecting said freely extending end portion of the drive shaft, the peripheral edge of said radially extending portion being coincidentwith a circle which is approximately tangential to the surface of and of a diameter substantially greater than said end portion of the drive shaft, said peripheral edge being of anarcuate length sufiicient to advance a predetermined length of staple-forming wire through the machine upon each revolution of the driven shaft, a pair of constantly entrained gears respectively associated with said shafts, one of said gears beingkeyed to the drive shaft'and' the other being freely revoluble about said driven shaft, and clutch-means operative to interengage said drive shaft and its revoluble-gear to effect conjoint rotation of said shafts and intermittent feed of successive lengths of staple-forming wire therebetween, said clutch means being operative, during operation of the drive shaft, to interrupt rotation of said driven shaft alone only after full advance of a predetermined length of the wire through the machine.

4. A wire-stitching machine of the character described comprising a continuously rotatable main drive shaft having one end thereof rotatably journalled in'a bearing having a capacity for limited displacement laterally of the axis of rotation of said shaft, a driven shaft disposed in laterally spaced, parallel relation to said drive shaft and having a radially projecting portion terminating in a peripheral surface coincident with a circle which is of a diameter substantially greater than and is approximately tangential to the surface of said laterally displaceable end of the rotatable drive shaft, spring means operable only upon said axially projecting end of said main drive shaft for resiliently urging said end of the drive shaft toward said radially projecting portion of the driven shaft whereby upon conjoint rotation of said shafts successive lengths of staple-forming Wire are intermittently gripped between and advanced by said tangential surfaces of said shafts, gear means respectively fitted on said shafts intermediate their journalled ends for insuring conjoint rotation thereof at equal surface speeds of revolution, and an axially shiftable clutch member rotatable with said driven shaft for rendering said gear means effective to rotate said driven shaft.

5. A wire-stitching machine of the character described comprising a continuously rotatable main drive shaft, a driven shaft disposed in laterally spaced, parallel relation to said drive shaft and having a radially projecting portion terminating in a peripheral surface coincident with a circle approximately tangential to the surface of said drive shaft whereby upon conjoint rotation of said shafts successive lengths of staple-forming wire are intermittently gripped between and advanced by said tangential surfaces of said shafts, gear means respectively fitted on said shafts intermediate their journalled ends for insuring conjoint rotation thereof at equal surface speeds of revolution, an axially shiftable clutch member rotatable with said driven shaft for rendering said gear means effective to rotate said driven shaft, said clutch member being axially biased for normal disengagement from said gear means whereby to interrupt rotation of said driven shaft, and means operatively associated with said clutch for maintaining it in engagement with said gear means against its normal disengaging bias until after a predetermined length of the staple-forming wire has been advanced into the machine by the aforesaid tangential wiregripping surfaces of the conjointly rotating drive and driven shafts.

6. In a wire-stitchin machine as defined in claim wherein said last-mentioned means includes a revoluble cam roller disposed for accommodation within a cam recess formed in the outer face of the axially biased clutch member.

7. In a wire-stitching machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said clutch member is provided in its rear face with a cam recess adapted for registry with a cam roller journalled for rotation about a relatively fixed axis, said cam roller being adapted to maintain said axially biased clutch member in operative engagement with said gear means until such instant as the cam recess is brought into registry with the cam roller whereupon the clutch member shifts, under its normal bias, out of engagement with said gear means to interrupt rotation of said driven shaft.

8. In a wire-stitching machine of the type having a pivotally suspended anvil adapted to receive and support a predetermined length of wire during a staple-forming operation, a vertically reciprocable cam-follower rod operatively associated with the anvil for temporarily locking it in position during the staple-forming operation. a

reciprocatory staple-forming bar operative uponthe wire supported by the positionally locked anvil, and a reciprocatory staple-driving bar operative upon the formed staple to drive it into position when the anvil is released and for shifting said anvil clear of the path of movement of said staple-:driving bar; a rotatably journalled drive shaft'having a freely extending end portion, a driven shaft adapted to be clutched to said drive shaft for conjoint reduced speed rotation therewith, and a cam disk fixed to and rotatable with said driven shaft, said cam disk being provided with angularly related radially extending portions each of which terminates in an arcuate edge coincident with the arc of a circle concentric with said driven shaft, one of said arcuate edges being operative conjointly with the end portion of said rotatable drive shaft to provide a feed mechanism for intermittently advancing successive portions of the staple-formin wire into position to be supported by said anvil and the other of said arcuate edges being operative as the controlling cam for said cam-follower rod, the wire-feeding arcuate edge of the cam disk being coincident with a circle which is of a diameter substantially greater than said end portion of the drive shaft.

RUDOLPH E. ZERUNEITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 87,555 Foskett Mar. 9, 1869 626,999 Huber June 13, 1899 971,068 Oulton et a1 Sept. 27, 1910 1,718,199 Bauman June 18, 1929 2,226,916 Zeruneith Dec. 31, 1940 2,311,903 Wilcox Feb. 23, 1943 2,451,598 Wilson Oct. 19, 1948 

